Ryan Wedding
Ryan Wedding | |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 September 1981 Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Other names | El Jefe, Giant, Public Enemy |
| Occupation(s) | Drug lord, former snowboarder |
| Organization | Sinaloa Cartel |
| Known for | Drug trafficking, murder |
| Criminal status | Wanted |
| Notes | |
Arrested in 2010 in California, USA and sentenced to four years in prison.[1] According to the FBI, there is a reward of US$50,000.00 for anyone who turns Wedding's whereabouts over to American and Mexican authorities.[2] | |
Ryan James Wedding (born 14 September 1981), also known as “El Jefe”, “Giant” or “Public Enemy”, is a Canadian drug lord[2] and former snowboarder. He competed in the men's parallel giant slalom event at the 2002 Winter Olympics, placing 24th in the event.[3]
Career in Snowboarding
[edit]![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2024) |
At the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Wedding competed for Team Canada in snowboarding men's parallel giant slalom, where he finished 24th overall.[4]
Drug trafficking
[edit]In 2010, Wedding was convicted of drug trafficking[5] and was sentenced to four years in prison.[6]
On October 17, 2024, Wedding was charged by the U.S. Department of Justice with "leading a transnational organized crime group that engaged in cocaine trafficking and murder, including of innocent civilians". He is charged with multiple felonies, including drug trafficking, leading a criminal organization, three counts of murder, and one attempt to commit murder. He is currently a fugitive.[7][8]
According to authorities, since his release, Wedding fled to Mexico and there became a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel (Mexico's largest drug cartel), where he is known by the nicknames “El Jefe,” “Giant” or “Public Enemy”.[9][10]
References
[edit]- ^ "Former Olympic Snowboarder Wanted by F.B.I. on Murder and Drug Charges". The New York Times. 17 October 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Most Wanted: RYAN JAMES WEDDING". Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Ryan Wedding Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- ^ Sarah Effress (17 October 2024). "Who is Ryan James Wedding? What to know about Canadian snowboarder charged with running cocaine ring". The Sporting News. b18c56d660a5572f96fa6269.
- ^ "Snowboarder charged with trafficking". Press Reader. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ "Ryan Wedding". Olympedia. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ "Former Canadian Olympian charged in connection with cocaine bust, alleged murders". CBC News. 17 October 2024. Archived from the original on 17 October 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- ^ "16 Defendants Charged in Superseding Indictment Alleging Bulk Shipments of Cocaine to Canada, Four Murders". US Department of Justice. 17 October 2024. Archived from the original on 17 October 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- ^ "What we know about Ryan Wedding, Canadian Olympian and accused drug lord". Global News. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ "Olympic Snowboarder Is Running Massive, Murderous Drug Trafficking Operation from Mexico, FBI Says". Vice Media. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
External links
[edit]- Ryan Wedding at FIS (snowboarding)
- Ryan Wedding at Olympedia
- FBI Most Wanted
- 1981 births
- Canadian drug traffickers
- Fugitives wanted by the United States
- Living people
- Canadian male snowboarders
- Olympic snowboarders for Canada
- Sinaloa Cartel traffickers
- Snowboarders at the 2002 Winter Olympics
- Sportspeople from Thunder Bay
- 21st-century Canadian sportsmen
- Canadian people convicted of drug offences